Annual Report

New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s North Country has historically been dependent upon the pulp and paper industry. This industry, however, has declined over the past decade to the point that only one mill remains in operation. The long-term decline in this sector has resulted in economic distress and dislocations in Grafton, Coos, and Carroll counties that have been challenging to address. Within this beautiful region, however there are a number of economic bright spots, including the town of Littleton, on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River in Grafton County.

Despite only having about 6,000 residents, the town of Littleton serves as an employment center for fifteen surrounding communities. The largest center of employment is the EDA-funded industrial park, which has been developed to capacity. In 2015, EDA invested $40,000 with the Littleton Industrial Development Corporation to gather data and develop a plan for the expansion of the Littleton Industrial Park, which is currently home to thirteen businesses and more than 1,200 employees. The project includes an examination of the infrastructure, financial and facilities needs of existing and more than five prospective new businesses, in a location of challenging topography. Upon completion, the plan will provide the Town and potential funding partners with the information necessary to expand the park and support the addition of potentially hundreds of jobs to the area.